Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Friends of Prospect High School,

Welcome to the final newsletter for Term 3. It has been wonderful to return to face-to-face learning and be able to participate in “normal” Term 3 activities. These have included 7/8 and 9/10 Northern Schools Sports, 6-7 and 10-11 transition activities, 2021 Student Leadership Board elections for Grade 9 students, exams for Grade 10 students, and Girls Gala Football day.

Transition Performance

Grade 8 Play Building students needed ideas for a play and an audience, and the Grade 6 students from our feeder primary schools provided just that. What a creative idea from Mrs Viney and the Grade 8 Drama students to write a play about transitioning to high school. Students from our feeder primary schools have been treated to a very polished performance. The performers were then available to answer questions from Grade 5/ 6 students about what it is like to transition to high school. The Wheels Are Falling Off was an entertaining performance with great messages. Congratulations to Mrs Viney and these talented students (both actors and technical assistants).

Grade 6 Parent Information Evening

On Tuesday, Prospect High School went live on Facebook with our first online Grade 6 Parent Information Evening. Information presented by staff included enrolment, uniform and office procedures, an outline of the Prospect High School School-Wide Expectations, subjects studied in Grade 7, student support services, and extension opportunities offered both as curricula and extra-curricula. Students also spoke about their experiences at Prospect High School. If you were unable to view this please contact the office on 6344 4744.

Science and Engineering Challenge

Prospect High School was represented by a creative group of students who used their problem-solving skills and STEM knowledge to solve a range of challenges at the Science and Engineering Challenge at UTAS. Prospect High School won the bridge building competition and had many other successes. Congratulations to this team who were excellent ambassadors for Prospect High School. Thank you also to Mrs Matthews for organising students and to Mr Harrington for supervising the students on Tuesday.

In a recent newsletter, I mentioned options available at extension schools and colleges in the Northern Region for students in Years 11 and 12. You are now able to view these options in a presentation via the link:
https://sway.office.com/oxVXr6L3JCTDO6o5?ref=Link 

In finishing, I would like to extend thanks to all parents for the support shown by preparing students for learning and ensuring regular attendance. Students have engaged well with learning, and it has been a productive term.  I would also like to thank all teaching and non-teaching staff for their hard work in delivering programs and for supporting students with their learning this term.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday.

Mrs Lee Barker
Principal

The Tasmanian Government has commenced a review on the governance framework for the three statutory entities that regulate education in Tasmania - the Office of the Education Registrar, the Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification, and the Teachers Registration Board. 

These entities provide critical education regulatory oversight and support services.

What they do impacts:                                                                                                                 

• the quality of the teaching that learners experience
• how learning is assessed and recognised
• the quality and safety of our learning environments
• the extent to which students are participating and engaged in learning pathways that are right for them.

A Steering Committee, including representatives from all three education sectors (government, catholic and independent) has been set up to guide the Review. 

They are seeking community input into the review through the release of a Discussion Paper.  Your feedback is invaluable to ensuring broad community views are captured and reflected in a future governance framework for education in Tasmania. 

For further information and to view the Discussion Paper please visit https://www.education.tas.gov.au/about-us/legislation/review-of-education-regulation

Responses to the Discussion Paper close on 4 October 2020. 

The Tasmanian Government has announced the expansion of the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS), which waives the cost of Tasmanian Government levies for eligible students for the 2021 school year onwards.

The eligibility for STAS will move to using the Health Care Card or equivalent as the assessment mechanism, replacing previous income thresholds that applied.

A set of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed to assist with any questions you may have. 

Further questions about STAS or Levies and Charges, in general, can be sent to the Department of Education’s Financial Services Unit at stas@education.tas.gov.au or by calling 1800 827 055.

Hi all, I’m Mia your Prospect High School health nurse while Danielle takes some well-earned R & R.  I work as part of the statewide School Health Nurses team across Tasmanian Government schools.  The programme aims to support schools to create a physical and social environment that promotes health and wellbeing, and assists to improve health and education outcomes for children and young people in Tasmania. In secondary schools, the focus is to promote good health and wellbeing, and to work with students, teachers and the school community on issues that may include body image, physical activity and nutrition, mental health, addictions, risk behaviours, sexual health and relationships, positive parenting for teenagers with babies, and promotion of good health and wellbeing.

I also offer one to one assistance, working with health promotion activities, and being involved with health education, where requested. I have been a nurse for around thirteen years (mostly working in acute care) with ten of those years working as a midwife. I am currently working in partnership with two high schools and will be at Prospect High School every Monday and every second Friday (weeks 1, 3, 5 etc).  I am located in the school nurse office in the foyer off the library. Please feel free to drop in and say 'hi'. Students can attend appointments with me at the school. Teachers and support staff can refer students and students can also self-refer.  I’m happy to work with parents, where requested, and can be contacted via the school office if you would like to make an appointment.  Just as a reminder, first aid needs still go through the school’s usual process. 

If you would like more information on School Nurses just click on the hyperlink below.

https://documentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/Infosheet-Health-School-Health-Nurses.pdf

Cheers,

Mia

Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy

Picture Book  Australian Author

Welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People. We are part of this land and the land is part of us. This is where we come from. Wominjeka Wurundjeri balluk yearmenn koondee bik. Welcome to Country. Aboriginal communities across Australia have boundaries that are defined by mountain ranges and waterways. Traditionally, to cross these boundaries or enter community country, you needed permission from the neighbouring community. When this permission was granted, the ceremony, now called Welcome to Country, took place. Each community had its own way of welcoming to country, and they still do today.

James Hardy Vaux’s 1819 Dictionary of Criminal Slang by Simon Barnard

In the early 1800s magistrates in the Australian colonies were often frustrated by the language used by reoffending convicts to disguise their criminal activities and intentions. Convict clerk James Hardy Vaux came up with a useful idea: a dictionary of slang and other terms used by convicts. And so, in 1819, he compiled what was to be Australia’s first published dictionary.

This is a fascinating account of convict language, including the origins and early usage of several words that have evolved to become part of Australian English today.

Untamed by A.G. Howard

Fantasy Fiction

Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart.

In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their favourite memories of Wonderland. In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her human life with Jeb and her immortal life with Morpheus. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and how she gave up the crown to rescue the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time.

The Game Master of Garden Place by Denis Markell

Fantasy Fiction

A quirky Dungeons & Dragons-inspired adventure that will appeal to gamers and readers of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series.

What if your favorite fantasy game characters showed up on your doorstep IRL?
Sixth graders Ralph, Jojo, Noel, Persephone, and Cammi are hooked on fantasy tabletop role-playing games. When they somehow manage to summon their characters to Ralph's house, things take a truly magical turn!

The Spiderwick Chronicles – The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi

Fantasy Fiction

After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they’ve just moved into, Jared, his twin brother, Simon, and their older sister, Mallory, discover that there’s a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own the world of faerie.

The Grace children want to share their story, but the faeries will do everything possible to stop them...

This term in Child Studies, we have covered topics including disabilities in children, conception and budgeting tasks, as well as the practical side of the subject which included taking home the simulated baby, wearing the pregnancy belly, and engaging in the LiL program at Summerdale Primary School. This is a great experience for our class, as it gives an insight into working with younger children. Next term we look forward to having many more learning opportunities and guest speakers.

Industry Live - careers on and off screen
Grades 8 and 9/10 drama students attended an 'Industry Live' with guest speakers, including Luke McGregor.  Some of the key messages taken from the students:
- be yourself - you can’t control outside influences, but you can control you
- be resilient and persistent
- for film/theatre success - volunteer, take part in unpaid films. Do extra non-acting jobs to help you get your foot in the door, to learn the industry, and make connections.

A group of Grades 8, 9 and 10 students attended a careers session at the Country Club Resort, Tasmania. Students rotated through three sessions - front of house, bar tending and kitchen operations. Some of the highlights included making Tim Tam balls, mocktails and setting tables. Students then heard from a panel who talked about all things hospitality! It was a great morning that highlighted some of the potential career pathways within the industry.

The Wheels Have Fallen off! is a play developed by the Grade 8 play building class. It explores the different concerns that students have when they transition to high school, and the different methods that they use to overcome these (some more successful than others!) Incorporating movement, song, physical comedy and serious scenes, the main message shared is one of optimism. The play emphasises the importance of enjoying the transition to high school and all that it has to offer.

Last week we performed at PHS in the drama room under lights to both Hagley Farm Primary School and Summerdale Primary School. Next, we are "on tour! The play building class will visit West Launceston Primary School on Wednesday and then Glen Dhu Primary School in Term 4.

These photos are from our performance at Summerdale Primary School on Thursday 17^th. Thank you to the students at both schools for being such fantastic audiences, and especially for asking such great questions at the end! We had a lot of fun sharing with you.

Grade 9

Noah has been nominated as a Working Wonder for encouraging others to work well in English and History.

School Executive

Principal
Mrs Lee Barker

Assistant Principals
Mr Mario Bergamin and Mr Greg James

School Business Manager
Mrs Debbie Chancellor

Grade Teams

Senior Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mr Brendan Poke
Grade 8 Mrs Anna Musovic
Grade 9 Mrs Carmen Slore
Grade 10 Mr Scott Brewer

Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mrs Katrina Dawkins and Mrs Hannah Derbyshire
Grade 8 Mr Will Reynolds and Mrs Leonie Smith
Grade 9 Mr Steve Andrews
Grade 10 Sonya Matthews

Support Staff

School Psychologist
Mr Gene Colgrave
(Mondays, every fourth Tuesday and Fridays)

School Social Worker
Mr Brendan Dixon
(Wednesdays, alternate Thursdays and Fridays)

School Health Nurse
Mrs Mia Blair
(Mondays and alternate Fridays)

Chaplain
Mr Sam Cogger
(Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Aboriginal Education Officer
Gareth Holt
(Wednesdays and Thursdays)